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NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service)

Lancashire County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

07 May 2026 at 15:56

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

03 Oct 2025 at 08:36

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 Sep 2025 at 16:18

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Lancashire County Council is conducting a tender for the NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service) in collaboration with other local councils, including Blackpool, Blackburn With Darwen, Cumberland, and Westmorland & Furness. This contract involves providing a managed service for an ITSO-compliant NoWcard system across various administrative areas. The procurement method being used is an open, competitive flexible procedure. The procurement process is currently in the tender stage, with submissions due by 12th June 2026. The tender's main category is goods, specifically focused on software packages and information systems. This opportunity has a maximum contract value of £1,200,000 and includes a provision for additional services and goods related to the system. Key dates include an enquiry period up to 2nd June 2026 and an award period ending on 4th September 2026.

This procurement creates significant opportunities for businesses involved in IT service management and smart card systems. The project is particularly suitable for companies capable of providing and maintaining comprehensive asset management and cardholder system solutions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, with flexibility for additional purchases and extensions over the initial three-year managed service period and possible extension up to seven years and six months total. The evaluation process places substantial weight on quality (60%), price (30%), and social value (10%), inviting enterprises that excel in delivering reliable, value-driven services to contribute meaningfully to local community mobility and transport infrastructure.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NoWcard Concessionary Travel System (Managed Service)

Notice Description

NoWcard is a transport smart card pass, most commonly for the elderly or disabled, available for use in Cumberland, Westmorland & Furness, Lancashire County Council (LCC), Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool administrative areas. It is administered by LCC on behalf of all NoWcard members with the smart card recording journey details and verifies eligibility for the concessionary travel. LCC wish to engage a managed service provider to supply and maintain an ITSO (Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) compliant NoWcard system, which is composed of the following components; 1. Asset Management System - Host Operator Processing System (AMS - HOPS) 2. ITSO Secure Application Module (ISAM) management 3. Cardholder and Card Management System (CMS) - English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) and Commercial Schemes 4. On-line application (web portal) - integration of ENCTS and existing commercial CMS 5. Print and Dispatch

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The Authority may purchase additional managed services and associated goods and services related to the future concessionary system. Refer to Appendix B - Statement of Requirements and Appendix D - Schedule of Pricing for further details on scope of optional goods and services.

Renewal: The initial Contract period will be up to six (6) months for implementation and three (3) years for annual managed services. After such time the Authority may extend the Contract by any number of defined periods stipulated by the Authority pursuant to the Contract, provided that the total duration of the Contract Term does not exceed seven (7) years and six (6) months.

Planning Information

The early market engagement process is detailed within the Request for Information (RFI). Copies of the RFI documentation will be available at https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/. Interested bidders are recommended to revisit this link regularly for updates on questions and answers that LCC have received. Interested parties should complete the RFI returnable form and send to digitalprocurement@lancashire.gov.uk on or before the 30th October 2025. Lancashire County Council (LCC) intend to run the early market engagement via a desktop review, however LCC reserves the right to invited interest parties to a follow-up discussion to better understand their RFI response.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a385
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042091-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,200,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 May 20263 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
5 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Lancashire County Council
Additional Buyers

BLACKPOOL COUNCIL

Blackburn With Darwen Borough Council

Cumberland Council

Cumbria Combined Authority

Lancashire Combined County Authority

Westmorland and Furness Council

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BLACKBURN
Postcode
PR1 0LD
Postcode Area
Preston
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD45 Mid Lancashire
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Preston
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Preston

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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